ABSTRACT
Italy is a regionalised state as confirmed by the opening Article of Title V of the constitution: ‘The Republic is divided into regions, provinces and municipalities’ (Art 114, Italian Constitution). This bold statement of intent is not dissimilar to those one finds in the opening Articles of federal constitutions such as the German Basic Law and the Belgian Constitution. The image of a semi-federal state is further strengthened by the strong words that are found in Art 115. This confirms that ‘the regions are constituted as autonomous territorial bodies with their own powers and functions according to the principles established by the constitution’. Given that the constitution goes on to enumerate these principles one would be forgiven for concluding that the Italian regional structure is at least comparable to the federations examined in Chapter 4. If ever one needed an object lesson in the misleading nature of constitutional interpretation taken out of context, Italy can provide it.
